Boiler vs Pressure vessel

[lcatg]

Hi,

Whats the difference between a Boiler and Pressure vessel?


Note: didnt find satisfactory answers in google. So asking here.

 

[JohnGP]

Well a boiler has integral pressure vessels, but is fired by some means to produce the pressure. Boiler drums usually are designed to a different code than unfired pressure vessels, such as ASME Section I as opposed to ASME Section VIII for the unfired vessels. "Pressure vessels" can range from the small air receiver in the corner of your mechanics workshop, to complex pieces of process equipment, but all designed to withstand a specified design pressure.

 

[davefitz]

JohnGP is correct, and one can add that a boiler generates steam, while a pressure vessel contains a fluid or gas under pressure, which is a more general definition. The boiler's specific purpose implies that other equipment associated with safely generating steam must be included in the design process, such as water level gauges, blowdowns, etc.

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick

 

[SnTMan]

Perhaps to state the obvious: The term boiler nearly always refers to a pressure vessel that vaporizes water to produce steam. Usually the heat is provided by a flame ("fired").

There is a class of pressure vessel, usually a shell & tube heat exchanger, referred to as a reboiler that vaporizes a fluid, maybe water, maybe not, without the use of flame ("unfired") thru exchange of heat from another fluid.

Regards,

Mike



The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[moltenmetal]

A boiler is a very specific kind of pressure vessel, with specific rules applied to it and its support equipment. See ASME Section I and ASME B31.1 for more details.

There are all sorts of devices designed to generate vapour from liquids, including water, for process uses, that are not classed as ASME I boilers.

 

[metengr]

Please read the scope of Section I and Section VIII.

 

[metengr]

SnTMan;

The term boiler nearly always refers to a pressure vessel

. What?? ASME Boiler Code evolved well before the pressure vessel code, which is why Section I is referred to as the "Mother" code. I say this with honor being a member of BPV I, and have a shirt which states the above.

 

[SnTMan]

metengr, no intention of slighting the Mother Code. My point was only that the working fluid is water. Plus I don't actually know jack about boilers

But I'm sure you will agree, at least the steam side is a vessel which is pressurized, no?

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[metengr]

Yes, I suppose SnTMan since you are indeed a PV person. Although being on the NBIC main committee, I prefer pressure retaining item (PRI), which is broader based. LOL.

 

[SnTMan]

letting it go now...

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand